When Rosie O'Donnell's new OWN talk show premiered Monday, the 49-year-old comic had one very special person backstage for moral support: Her new girlfriend, Michelle Rounds.
Making their public debut as a couple at last month's Rosie Theater Kids Gala in New York City, O'Donnell and Rounds, a New York City IT headhunter, had no problem settling in to O'Donnell's new digs in Chicago.
In fact, the talk show host quickly made her girlfriend feel welcome at Harpo Studios, where her series tapes. "Rosie brought Michelle to the studio on Friday and gave her a tour," a source at The Rosie Show tells Us Weekly.
"She is very attractive and friendly. Rosie was really proud and showing her off, and introducing her as 'my partner' — which was a little surprising, since they are newly dating," continues the source. "They seem really happy though and were holding hands and Rosie had a lot of fun showing her around the show."
After Monday's live show, O'Donnell and her new girlfriend celebrated the premiere with a leisurely three-hour dinner at Chicago's Paris Club, dining on goat cheese au gratin, french onion fondue, steak frites and other items along with O'Donnell's daughter, Chelsea.
O'Donnell has four children with ex-wife Kelli Carpenter, whom she married in 2007. They split three years later. O'Donnell dated mother of six Tracy Kachtick-Anders for one year before calling it quits last winter.
